Little heroes in Altenburg: Policat” strengthens children for the future!

Little heroes in Altenburg: Policat” strengthens children for the future!

In today's issue we take a look at exciting news from the Altenburger Land. An important topic is the “Policat” prevention project, which has been helping children in the district to assert themselves confidently since 2008. Through this project, the youngest children learn to say “no” and get help in an emergency. The program was developed by police officer Steffen Grundel, with the large, cuddly police cat, who serves as the central figure, supporting the children in a playful way. Child-friendly materials, such as a magnetic board and large fabric cubes, enable familiar handling of sensitive topics. The content is extremely valuable, especially for children aged four and over, especially in the last year of kindergarten.

“Policat” trains kids to recognize their own limits and point out trustworthy places to turn if they get in trouble. Role-playing games and exercises are on the program and ensure lively learning in everyday life. The project has long proven to be a real enrichment for educational professionals, parents and, last but not least, children. Daycare centers in the district can borrow the project sets from the respective specialist advice center; more information can be found on the website abg-net.de.

Current events and meeting dates

Another look at the events shows: The city council in Schmölln will meet on Thursday, August 28th, at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room in the savings bank building. The agenda includes, among other things, the appointment of the military leaders as well as honors and information from the mayor. Shortly afterwards, at 7:00 p.m., the local council in Nobitz meets in the community hall to discuss important issues.

For those who are interested in culture, there will be a coffee party and an exhibition in the Prinzenpalais of the Altenburg Residential Palace next Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. The exhibition “Dieter Appelt – Gerhard Altenbourg Prize 2025” opens here, with Dieter Appelt’s works taking center stage. Curator Benjamin Rux leads through the exhibition, which addresses existential questions and stimulates thought.

Opening times and workshops

An important note concerns the residents' registration office in Schmölln: Due to staff shortages, the office is only staffed sporadically. It will remain closed this Wednesday. On Thursday the doors will be open again from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for agreed appointments and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for urgent cases.

There will also be a herbal cooking course with Grit Nitzsche next week at the Quellenhof cultural property in Garbisdorf. These workshops run on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and offer the opportunity to create a menu together and learn tips and recipes for cooking with herbs. Registration is required.

Finally, we would like to encourage readers to consider the issues of safety and health, which are so important for the little ones. The “Policat” project can not only be a model for more and more daycare centers in the Altenburger Land, but also the basis for further learning and research. At dguv.de you can find further exciting materials that help to sensitize children to such topics and that strengthen their ability to act in everyday life.